Electric meter and contact arcing detector, and arcing detector therefor

ABSTRACT

An electric meter contact arc detector is mountable to an electric meter base and may comprise: a de-tuned resonant tank circuit configured to receive a magnetic field and/or an electric field from an electrical arc at a stab contact; an electrical detector detecting signals generated in the de-tuned resonant tank circuit responsive to the electrical arc at the stab contact; and an output device indicating detection of an electrical arc. A disconnect device responsive to the electrical detector and configured to interrupt an electrical connection to the stab contact, may be provided. An electrical arc at the stab contact may thus be detected and may cause an electrical connection to the stab contact to be interrupted.

This Application claims the benefit of the priority of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/221,160 entitled “ELECTRIC METER AND CONTACTARCING DETECTOR, AND ARCING DETECTOR THEREFOR” which was filed on Sep.21, 2015, and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

The present invention relates to an electric meter including a detectorof arcing at an electrical contact, and to an electrical contact arcingdetector therefor.

Revenue-grade socket electric meters, used in approximately 200 millionplus locations in the United States, can possibly have dangerouslyarcing connections between the meter connections (“stabs”) of theelectric meter and the socket connections (“jaws”) of the meter socketthat connect to it. A condition where the stab-to-jaw connection isarcing without causing any easily detectable power problems on the siteis dangerous because the arcing connection can heat up to a point ofcausing a fire, yet the arcing connection does not necessarily cause acondition which is easily detectable by commonly used fault-detectionmethods, such as fuses and circuit breakers which respond toover-current conditions or ground fault detectors which respond tocurrent flowing from a supply to a safety ground.

Given the large number of these meters in use, the potential harm fromelectrical arcing at connections is widespread, yet at the same timesuch high volume usage calls for an extremely low cost detection deviceand method so as to be affordable on such a large scale.

Such electric meters, which are widely employed to indicate usage ofelectrical power by a consumer or customer of an electric utilitysupplier, are typically plug-in devices that are plugged in to a metersocket which is typically mounted in an enclosure on a building or otherstructure whereat electrical power is consumed. The meter sockettypically includes plural metal “jaws” which are female electricalcontacts that are embedded or otherwise attached to an insulating socketbase in a standardized pattern. A typical meter socket for single phaseor two phase power can have four jaws for providing two pairs ofelectrical connections from the socket to the meter, one pair forcarrying current from the utility supply to the meter and a second pairfor carrying electrical current from the meter to the electrical paneland wiring of the consumer.

The electric meter typically includes plural metal “stabs” which aremale electrical contacts that are embedded in or otherwise attached toan insulating base of the electric meter in the standardized pattern, sothat the electric meter conveniently plugs into the meter socket and islikewise removable therefrom. A typical electric meter for single phaseor two phase power can have four stabs for providing two pairs ofelectrical connections between the meter and the socket, one pair forcarrying current from the utility supply to the meter and a second pairfor carrying electrical current from the meter to the electrical paneland wiring of the consumer.

Typical residences have 100 ampere, or 150 ampere, or 200 ampereelectrical service and so substantial electrical current typically flowsthrough each stab-to-jaw connection. Practically, the electrical contactbetween a jaw and a stab departs from the ideal, e.g., in that completeelectrical contact over the intended surface area may be lacking, e.g.,due to misalignment, wear, relaxation of the metal jaw, dirt and/orcorrosion, and the like. These manifest as, e.g., an increasedelectrical resistance of the connection and/or a gap across which thecurrent flows by arcing, which results in electrical heating at theconnection. Under high current conditions, such heating can increasetemperature sufficiently to lead to fire. Many instances of electricalmeter fires have been reported. (See the web page at:http://emfsafetynetwork.org/smart-meters/smart-meter-fires-and-explosions/).

While some schemes to detect such contact arcing have been proposed,those are understood to be complex and therefore tend to add significantcomplexity and cost to each electric meter. Patents and patentapplications exist which describe detecting arcing via detection of RFradio wave emissions, yet those patents require complicated methods ofdetection and discrimination. For example, U.S. Published PatentApplication 2014/0327449A1 to Elster describes arc detection using asophisticated spread-spectrum radio transceiver used in remote meterreading systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,145 to Blades describes acomplicated system of correlating RF detection with instantaneous linevoltage in order to discriminate between arcing and other radio noise.

Applicant believes there is a need for a simpler contact arc detectorthat can detect arcing at the stab-to-jaw connections of an electricmeter and signal a need for an action that is, e.g., intended to preventa fire or alert personnel, while being relatively small, so as to beeasily and inexpensively made part of an electric meter or carried.

Accordingly, an electric meter contact arcing detector that may bemountable to an electric meter base having a plurality of contacts forconnecting to plural contacts of an electric meter socket may comprise:a de-tuned resonant tank circuit configured to receive a field generatedby an electrical arc at a contact; an electrical detector for detectingsignals generated in the de-tuned resonant tank circuit responsive to anelectrical arc; and an output device responsive to the electricaldetector. Thus, an electrical arc at a contact may be detected and causethe output device to respond thereto.

An electric meter and contact arc detector may comprise: an electricmeter base having contacts for connecting to an electric meter socket; ametering device; and a contact arc detector that may comprise: ade-tuned resonant tank circuit configured to receive a field generatedby an electrical arc at a contact; an electrical detector for detectingsignals in the de-tuned resonant tank circuit responsive to anelectrical arc; and a disconnect device configured to interrupt anelectrical connection to one or more of the contacts. Thus, electricalarc at a contact may be detected and cause interruption of an electricalconnection to a contact.

In summarizing the arrangements described and/or claimed herein, aselection of concepts and/or elements and/or steps that are described inthe detailed description herein may be made or simplified. Any summaryis not intended to identify key features, elements and/or steps, oressential features, elements and/or steps, relating to the claimedsubject matter, and so are not intended to be limiting and should not beconstrued to be limiting of or defining of the scope and breadth of theclaimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) will be moreeasily and better understood when read in conjunction with the FIGURESof the Drawing which include:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating elevation views of an examplemeter socket and of an example embodiment of an electric meter includinga contact arc detector;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an example embodiment of an electric meterincluding a contact arc detector proximate an example meter socket, andFIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a stab to jaw connection;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of example embodiment of an electric metercontact arc detector; and

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of an example embodiment of anelectrical circuit of an electric meter contact arc detector.

In the Drawing, where an element or feature is shown in more than onedrawing figure, the same alphanumeric designation may be used todesignate such element or feature in each figure, and where a closelyrelated or modified element is shown in a figure, the samealphanumerical designation may be primed or designated “a” or “b” or thelike to designate the modified element or feature. Similar elements orfeatures may be designated by like alphanumeric designations indifferent figures of the Drawing and with similar nomenclature in thespecification. As is common, the various features of the drawing are notto scale, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarilyexpanded or reduced for clarity, and any value stated in any Figure isby way of example only.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present arrangement detects arcing at an electric contact utilizinga relatively simple broadband detector circuit installed within closeproximity of the meter stabs, e.g., in use, the stab-to-jaw connectionsbetween the electric meter and a meter socket. One example embodiment ofsuch a detector circuit is described herein, and other, perhaps simpler,embodiments may be possible. Because this detector circuit is so simple,it can be made very small physically, and thus can be placed inrelatively close proximity to where the arcing may occur, e.g., at thestabs. With the detector circuit so close to the potential arcinglocation, more sophisticated methods of discrimination are notnecessary, because the signal generated by the contact arcing falls offquite rapidly with increasing distance between the location of the arcand that of the arc detector circuit.

This arrangement allows for the detection/discrimination process to beextremely simple due to physical placement of the detector close to thelocation of potential arcing. Thus, the circuit doesn't require that theemissions from arcing be a radio wave (using the common definition of aradio wave as being a disturbance where the respective amplitudes ofelectric and magnetic fields are proportional to one another related bythe impedance of free space), although the detector operates over arange of frequencies generally considered to be in a radio frequency(RF) band. The close proximity placement of the arcing detector to thelocation of potential arcing allows electrical and/or magnetic energyfrom the arcing to be coupled into a de-tuned inductor/capacitor tankcircuit, e.g., by simple transformer action with the inductor andcircuit wiring in the case of coupling via a magnetic field created bythe arcing, or by capacitive coupling with the capacitor and circuitwiring in the case of coupling via an electric field created by thearcing, or by other means.

Typically, the harmful effects of electric meter contact arcing willtake more than 20-30 seconds of continuous arcing to materialize as adangerous condition, e.g., in the form of melting of meter components,and/or of out-gassing and/or burning of meter components, due to heatcreated by the arcing. Therefore, this arrangement utilizes a straightforward timing law, which may be implemented in any number of differentways, e.g., by a microcomputer or microcontroller and/or with timingnetworks, counters and other appropriate electronic circuits.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating elevation views of an examplemeter socket 10 and of an example embodiment of an electric meter 20including a contact arc detector 100, FIG. 2 is a side view of anexample embodiment of an electric meter 20 including a contact arcdetector 100 proximate an example meter socket 10, and FIG. 2A is anenlarged view of an example connection of a stab contact 22 of anelectric meter 20 to a jaw contact 12 of a meter socket 10. Meter socket10 includes a typically circular insulating base 14 in which areembedded or otherwise attached a plurality of electrical contacts 12each of which is usually a female contact member referred to as a jaw 12because it has plural flexible contact extensions into which a malecontact member 22 may be inserted. Jaws 12 are typically in astandardized pattern with standardized spacing. In a typicalinstallation, meter socket 10 is installed, e.g., in a metal electricalbox having a sealable interface for receiving an electric meter 20 withprotection against weather and security against tampering, that ismounted on a building or other structure or support.

Electric meter 20 includes a typically circular insulating base 24 inwhich are embedded or otherwise attached a plurality of electricalcontacts 22 each of which is usually a male contact member 22 referredto as a stab 22 because it has a male contact member 22 which may beinserted into a female contact member 12. Stabs 22 are typically in astandardized pattern with standardized spacing that corresponds to thepattern and spacing of contacts 12 of meter socket 10. In a typicalinstallation, electric meter 20 is installed into a metal electrical boxcontaining a meter socket 10 and the metal electrical box provides asealable interface for protection against weather and for securityagainst tampering with electric meter 20.

Electrical contact arc detector 100 is typically and preferably mountednear the insulating base 24 of electric meter 20 in relatively closeproximity to stabs 22, e.g., in a region generally centrally locatedwithin the pattern of stabs 22. Insulating meter base 24 is typicallycircular and of substantially the same size as is socket base 14. Meterbase 24 also typically supports a metering device 30 having a meterreadout 32.

Metering device 30 may be, e.g., an electro-mechanical metering device30 driven by the power passing through meter 20 and having a mechanicaldial read out 32 or an electronic readout 32, or may be, e.g., anelectronic metering device 30 having an electronic readout 32 or havinga transmitter for transmitting metering and/or status information to autility via a communication link or network. The latter more modern typeof electric meter 30 is typically referred to as a “smart meter” andincludes a microprocessor or micro-controller that digitally monitorsand meters electric power usage and status, and that typically canactuate a disconnect device, e.g., an electro-mechanical or anelectronic disconnect device, to disconnect the power supply mains fromthe utilization wiring and equipment at that location, e.g., byinterrupting the electrical power connection to one or more of stabs 22of meter 20.

With stabs 22 inserted into jaws 12, the contact extensions of jaws 12are urged outwardly, e.g., apart, by stab 22 thereby to create pressurebetween jaw 12 and stab 22 for making a better electrical connectionover the area AR of physical contact between the surfaces of jaw 12 andstab 22. But neither the contact area AR nor the electrical connectionis perfect, e.g., due to surface imperfections, tarnish, corrosion,foreign matter and the like, and so electrical arcing will eventuallyoccur in region AR. While the electric and magnetic fields generated bythe electrical current flowing through the connection of jaws 12 andstab 22 are at the power line frequency, the electric and magneticfields generated by the electrical arcing are over a broad band offrequencies, including radio frequencies that are at least in partwithin the bandwidth of electrical arc detector 100.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of example embodiment of an electric metercontact arc detector 100. Therein, the electric and magnetic fieldsgenerated by the electrical arcing (indicated by the four jagged arrows)impinge upon a resonant electrical circuit 110, e.g., a so-called L-Ctank circuit, to produce a voltage which is coupled via summing node 140to detector 120, e.g., to the “+” input thereof. A reference level oroffset 160 is applied to the other input of detector 120, e.g., to the“−” input thereof, to establish a minimum or threshold level below whichdetector 120 does not respond and above which detector 120 produces adetection signal at its output.

When detector 120 responds to the electric and magnetic fields generatedby the electrical arcing, its output signal may be applied for twopurposes. Firstly, the output signal from detector 120 may directly orindirectly cause a power switch 130, e.g., a contactor or circuitbreaker, to be actuated to disconnect or interrupt the power supplymains received at one or more of stabs 22, thereby to disconnectelectrical power flowing to the utilizing load and to extinguish thecurrent flow that is producing electrical arcing.

The output signal from detector 120 is also applied to feedback network150 and through that feedback network 150 to the +input of detector 120via summing node 140, thereby to provide positive feedback to causedetector 120 to remain in the arc detecting condition, at leasttemporarily. Feedback network 150 preferably is AC coupled and has atime constant that controls the time that detector 120 remains in thearc detecting condition so that its output is of sufficient duration todirectly or indirectly cause power switch 130 to activate anddisconnected electrical power, thereby to remove electrical power fromthe supply mains, or to satisfy another utilization condition.

Alternatively, and usually preferably, the arc detector 100 actsindirectly in that it provides an output signal of sufficient durationto indicate an occurrence of electrical arcing to the micro-controlleror microprocessor of the metering device 30 of electric meter 20. Thatmicro-controller or microprocessor would then, if the extent and/orduration of electrical arcing exceeds a predetermined limit orthreshold, actuate the disconnect switch of the electric meter 20 if themeter manufacturer and/or utility has provided and enabled thatfunctionality.

Because detection circuit 100 is relatively simple and does not filterout or correlate any false signals, e.g., signals from AMI transmittersor other RF sources, it is preferred that such functionality beimplemented by the micro-controller or microprocessor of the meteringdevice 30 of electric meter 20 in the manner determined by the utilityutilizing such meter. It is noted that different utilities will likelyhave different limit and/or threshold criteria for different types ofelectric meters, for electric meters from different manufacturers, andfor their determined level of risk and experience relating to electricmeters and their problems, including electrical arcing and possiblyfires resulting from electrical arcing of electric meters.

Typically, in a smart meter 20, actuation of disconnecting power switch130 is detected by the microprocessor or micro-controller thereof and iscommunicated by electric meter 20, e.g., by a transmitter and/or modemassociated with metering device 30, to a utility. Power may bereconnected by resetting disconnecting power switch, e.g., manually atthe location of meter 20, by remote control from the utility utilizingthe microprocessor or micro-controller of meter 20, or by themicroprocessor or micro-controller of meter 20 monitoring conditions atmeter 20 and initiating the resetting of switch 130.

Electrical power for arc detector 100 is provided by power supply 180which may take one of many forms. In its simplest form, power supply 180may be a battery. In another form, power supply 180 may be or may bepart of a power supply that is part of a smart meter 20 or anotherelectronic meter 20, e.g., that is part of metering device 30 thereof.Typically, power supply 180 derives electrical power from the powersupply mains received via stabs 22 and may include, among other things,a rectifier, transformer, and/or DC converter. Even such DC convertersmay include a back up battery power source for times when there is anoutage or other loss of power received from power supply mains.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of an example embodiment of anelectrical circuit of an electric meter contact arc detector 100. Theillustrated detector circuit 100 is illustrative of an exampleembodiment of an electrical arc detector 100 of the sort shown anddescribed in relation to FIG. 3. The electric and/or magnetic fieldscreated by electrical contact arcing impinges upon the tank circuitformed by capacitor C1 and inductor L1, an L-C tank circuit, which isphysically located proximate to the site or sites of potentialelectrical arcing.

Capacitor C1 and inductor L1 comprise a tank circuit 110 or resonantcircuit 110 which resonates when excited by energy coupled into it fromany nearby alternating magnetic or electric field of sufficient strengthand having a frequency within the appropriate range, which issubstantially higher than the utility power line frequency, e.g., 60 Hzin the United States and 50 Hz in Europe and elsewhere. Thus, the tankcircuit 110 does not respond to the utility power line frequency.

The tank circuit L1-C1 is de-tuned by the resistive load imposed on itvia connection to resistor R3 and/or resistors R7, R1, R2 so that it'squality factor Q is reduced and its frequency response or bandwidth isbroadened. The DC voltage applied at capacitor C2 is at a DC voltagelevel that is set by the adjustable potentiometer R7 in cooperation withresistors R1, R2 and diode-connected transistor Q3 to be used (afteradjustment) as a predetermined reference or threshold level for detectorcircuit 120 which is provided by transistors Q1, Q2 for detecting theelectric and/or magnetic field created by electric contact arcing.

As ambient temperature changes induce changes in the base-to-emittervoltages Vbe of transistors Q1 and Q3, the amount of thermally induceddrift in the two transistors Q1, Q3 is substantially the same if thetransistors Q1, Q3 are thermally coupled, as is preferred, and so theeffects of temperature change are substantially reduced. Ideallytransistors Q3 and Q1 are in the same package, so as to be closelythermally coupled, such as a dual NPN transistor array that isfabricated on a common substrate. The constant voltage on capacitor C2produces an offset voltage which adds to the signal voltage produced bythe tank circuit 110 formed by C1/L1. In practice, potentiometer R7 isset so that the DC voltage at capacitor C2 is just below the thresholdwhich causes transistor Q1 to start conducting.

Transistors Q1, Q2 of detector 120 are preferably interconnected so asto function as a latching circuit. Once transistor Q1 starts to conduct,the base of transistor Q2 is pulled low by the conduction of transistorQ1 to turn transistor Q2 on, whereby current flows out of the emitter oftransistor Q2. The portion of that current that flows through the seriescircuit including resistor R4 and capacitor C3 will provide positivefeedback that will tend to turn transistor Q1 on even further. Thispositive feedback action causes transistors Q1 and Q2 to further turn onuntil a saturated condition whereby the Q1-Q2 transistor pair arelatched in a fully turned on or saturated condition, thereby to providean output signal from detector 120. Once this conduction commences, itwill continue for a time period determined by time constant determinedby the values of resistor R4 and capacitor C3. Once triggered,transistor pair Q1-Q2 remain ON until C3 charges completely, thusreducing the feedback current to zero, removing the drive to transistorQ1 so that transistors Q1-Q2 both turn off, terminating the outputsignal from detector 120.

When transistor Q2 is conducting, an output signal is generated fromelectric contact arc detector circuit 100 suitable for initiating anaction, e.g., signaling for operation of a disconnect switch orinterrupter or contactor or circuit breaker, to reduce the electricalcurrent flowing at the site of the electrical arcing thereby to reducethe arcing to a safe level or to extinguish the arcing. Transistors Q1,Q2 thus function as a detector 120 or as a comparator 120 that comparesthe voltage generated across the de-tuned L-C tank circuit 110 to thereference (or offset) voltage provided by reference source 160.

The signal output from transistors Q1-Q2 of detector 120 may be appliedvia and/or to different utilization devices, of which two examples aredescribed. In a first example, the turning on of transistor Q2 causescurrent to flow through the light emitting diode (LED) D1 whichilluminates to produce light indicating that a triggering arcing eventhas occurred, e.g., likely to be arcing at one or more meterconnections. While LED D1 may provide a visual indication or warningthat arcing has occurred, the light produced thereby may be utilized toimpinge upon an opto-electronic device, e.g., a photo-diode, of anoptical coupler coupled for initiating operation of an interrupt and/ordisconnect device 130.

Alternatively, in another example, output current from transistor Q2 waybe applied to turn on a further transistor Q4 which, e.g., directly iscoupled to initiate operation of an interrupt and/or disconnect device130.

The illustrated example circuit 100 of FIG. 4 includes an on/off switchS1 and a battery BT1 for convenience in testing, e.g., testing ofcircuit 100 and or testing of circuit 100 in an electric meter 20, andone or both thereof would not likely be included in a commercialembodiment of circuit 100. However, in an embodiment of detector 100configured, e.g., as a portable tester for detecting electrical arcing,then an on/off switch S1 and a battery power source 180 would beprovided in a housing containing detector 100, and an LED D1 and/or anaudible indicator 130 would be provided, e.g., to provide a visualand/or audible indication that the presence of electrical arcing hadbeen detected.

In the illustrated example embodiment, PNP transistor Q2 isintentionally operated in an “inverted” mode wherein the terminalthereof normally serving as the emitter serves as its collector and theterminal thereof normally serving as the collector serves as theemitter, so that the effective current gain (e.g., beta) of transistorQ2 is substantially less than that in normal mode operation. Typically,transistor Q2 when operated in inverted mode exhibits a current gain ofabout two, which in combination with the normal mode current gain of NPNtransistor Q1 provides sufficient gain for the described latchingoperation of transistors Q1-Q2. A high beta, such as exhibited in normalmode operation of transistors Q1 and Q2, could make the Q1-Q2 latchingcircuit unstable, e.g., susceptible to oscillating during its turning on(becoming latched) and turning off (becoming unlatched), however, thatgain could be attenuated at higher frequencies by employing a smallcapacitor and/or inductor, e.g., a ferrite bead that slips onto a wire,such as one of the leads of a transistor or another electricalcomponent.

In a typical example embodiment of the detector circuit 100 of FIG. 4,the circuitry is powered by a small 3V DC “coin” cell battery 180, BT1,so that it could easily be fitted into an electric meter without havingto modify or connect to the meter's existing electronics. In practice,however, detector circuit 100 would preferably be powered by an existinglow voltage DC power supply 180 that is built into the smart meter 20;the additional power drawn from that power supply appears to benegligible. An example parallel LC tank circuit 110 with inductor L1=100μH and capacitor C1=820 pF provides a calculated resonance frequency ofabout 560 kHz, and preferably has a relatively broad bandwidth, e.g.,preferably in the range of about 10 kHz to several hundred KHz. Thevalue of de-tuning resistor R3, e.g., 100 kilohms, which couples theL1-C1 tank circuit 110 output into the base of transistor Q1 can bedetermined empirically, e.g., to obtain a desired bandwidth.

In one example, the offset voltage 160 was set about 0.6V, partly tooffset a substantial amount of the base-to-emitter threshold voltage Vbeof transistor Q1, so that the voltage generated across the L1-C1 tankcircuit 110 by the electric and/or magnetic fields produced byelectrical arcing only needed to be around about 20 mV to trigger theQ1-Q2 detector circuit 120 to detect the arcing.

The time duration of the electrical arcing which results in damage tothe electric meter 20 varies greatly between electric meters ofdifferent configurations and types and between those from differentmanufacturers, as well as with the material from which meter base 24,and socket base 14, are made. Some electric meters can withstandelectrical arcing for more than 10 minutes with minimal damage, andother electric meters can only withstand about 20-30 seconds ofelectrical arcing before exhibiting visible melting and out-gassing,e.g., of the meter base. Thus, it is preferred that time limits forallowable duration of electrical arcing and delay before initiating adisconnect or interrupt be incorporated into a microcontroller ormicroprocessor of the metering device 30. Typically, a manufacturer orutility can program the acceptable values for a particular electricmeter 20 into the software controlling the microcontroller ormicroprocessor of metering device 30 thereof so that, e.g., anelectrical arc must persist for a predetermined time before thedisconnect device 130 is activated.

The timing controlled by the time constant provided by resistor R4 andcapacitor C3 is preferably selected to set the minimum pulse widthduration at the output of detector circuit 100, 120. The minimum pulsewidth for each detection should be of sufficient duration to ensure thatthe micro-controller/microprocessor in the metering device 30 and/or theinterrupt or disconnect device 130 will properly and reliably respond tothe pulse. Where a visible LED D1 is provided, the minimum pulse widthcould be selected so that a human observer, e.g., service personnel,could see that the LED illuminates indicating when arcing has occurred.

An electric meter 20 and contact arc detector 100 may comprise: anelectric meter base 24 formed of an electrically insulating material andhaving a plurality of stab contacts 22 configured for making electricalconnection to plural contacts 12 of an electric meter socket 10; ametering device 30 supported by the electric meter base 24; and acontact arc detector 100 supported by the electric meter base 24, thecontact arc detector 100 may comprise: a de-tuned resonant tank circuit110 configured to receive a magnetic field and/or an electric fieldgenerated by an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stabcontacts 22; an electrical detector 120 to which the de-tuned resonanttank circuit 110 is coupled for detecting signals generated in thede-tuned resonant tank circuit 110 responsive to the magnetic fieldand/or an electric field generated by an electrical arc at one or moreof the plurality of stab contacts 22; and a disconnect device 130responsive directly or indirectly to the electrical detector 120 andconfigured to interrupt an electrical connection to one or more of theplurality of stab contacts 22. An electrical arc at one or more of theplurality of stab contacts 22 may be detected and cause the interruptionof an electrical connection to one or more of the plurality of stabcontacts 22. The de-tuned resonant tank circuit 110 may include aninductor L and a capacitor C in parallel connection. The de-tunedresonant tank circuit 110 may be coupled to a resistance R for de-tuningthe resonant tank circuit 110 to broaden the bandwidth thereof. Theelectrical detector 120 may have two inputs, a first of the two inputsthereof being coupled to the de-tuned resonant tank circuit 110 and asecond of the two inputs thereof being connected to a reference source160 configured to provide an offset to a detection threshold of theelectrical detector 120. The electrical detector 120 may include: atiming network 150 for determining a duration of an output signaltherefrom. The timing network 150 may include a resistor R and acapacitor C connected for determining a time constant. The electricaldetector 120 may include first and second transistors Q1, Q2, an outputelectrode of each of the first and second transistors Q1, Q2 beingcoupled to an input electrode of the other of the first and secondtransistors Q1, Q2, wherein turning the first transistor Q1 on causesthe second transistor Q2 to turn on causing positive feedback 150 to theinput electrode of the first transistor Q1, whereby the first and secondtransistors Q1, Q2 latch into an on condition. The output electrode ofthe second transistor Q2 may be coupled to the input electrode of thefirst transistor Q1 by a resistor R and a capacitor C connected fordetermining a time constant, whereby the first and second transistorsQ1, Q2 latch into the on condition for a predetermined time. Theelectric meter 20 and contact arc detector 100 may further comprise: anoptical coupler D1 or a transistor Q4 coupling the electrical detector120 to the disconnect device 130. The electric meter 20 and contact arcdetector 100 may further comprise: a metering device 30 including amicro-controller or a microprocessor, wherein said micro-controller ormicroprocessor is responsive to said electrical detector 120 to causesaid disconnect device 130 to interrupt an electrical connection to oneor more of the plurality of stab contacts 22; or to cause the disconnectdevice 130 to interrupt an electrical connection to one or more of theplurality of stab contacts 22 after the output of the electricaldetector 130 persists for a predetermined time.

An electric meter contact arc detector 100 mountable to an electricmeter base 24 formed of an electrically insulating material and having aplurality of stab contacts 22 configured for making electricalconnection to plural contacts 12 of an electric meter socket 10, and ametering device 30 supported by the electric meter base 24; the contactarc detector 100 may comprise: a de-tuned resonant tank circuit 110configured to receive a magnetic field and/or an electric fieldgenerated by an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stabcontacts 22; an electrical detector 120 to which the de-tuned resonanttank circuit 110 is coupled for detecting signals generated in thede-tuned resonant tank circuit 110 responsive to the magnetic fieldand/or an electric field generated by an electrical arc at one or moreof the plurality of stab contacts 22; and an output device 30, 130, D1,Q4 responsive to the electrical detector 120 and configured to respondto detection of an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality ofstab contacts 22. An electrical arc at one or more of the plurality ofstab contacts 22 may be detected and cause the output device 30, 130,D1, Q4 to respond to detection of an electrical arc at one or more ofthe plurality of stab contacts 22. The de-tuned resonant tank circuit110 may include an inductor L and a capacitor C in parallel connection.The de-tuned resonant tank circuit 110 may be coupled to a resistance Rfor de-tuning the resonant tank circuit 110 to broaden the bandwidththereof. The electrical detector 120 may have two inputs, a first of thetwo inputs thereof being coupled to the de-tuned resonant tank circuit110 and a second of the two inputs thereof being connected to areference source 160 configured to provide an offset to a detectionthreshold of the electrical detector 120. The electrical detector 120may include: a timing network 150 for determining a duration of anoutput signal therefrom. The timing network 150 may include a resistor Rand a capacitor C connected for determining a time constant. Theelectrical detector 120 may include first and second transistors Q1, Q2,an output electrode of each of the first and second transistors Q1, Q2being coupled to an input electrode of the other of the first and secondtransistors Q1, Q2, wherein turning the first transistor on causes thesecond transistor Q2 to turn on causing positive feedback to the inputelectrode of the first transistor Q1, whereby the first and secondtransistors Q1, Q2 latch into an on condition. The output electrode ofthe second transistor Q2 may be coupled to the input electrode of thefirst transistor Q1 by a resistor R and a capacitor C connected fordetermining a time constant, whereby the first and second transistorsQ1, Q2 latch into the on condition for a predetermined time. Theelectric meter contact arc detector 100 wherein the output device 130may include: an audio or visual indicator D1, 130, or a light emittingdiode D1 configured to provide an indication that the electricaldetector 120 has detected electrical arcing; or an optical coupler D1 ora transistor Q4 or a metering device 30 directly or indirectly couplingthe electrical detector 120 to a disconnect device 130 configured tointerrupt electrical power to one of more of the plurality of stabcontacts 22. The electric meter contact arc detector may furthercomprise a metering device 30 including a micro-controller or amicroprocessor supported by the electric meter base 24, wherein themetering device 30 responds to the output of the electrical detector120: for activating the output device 130; or for determining a durationof the output of the electrical detector 120; or for activating theoutput device 130 after the output of the electrical detector 120persists for a predetermined time.

As used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes,formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities andcharacteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximateand/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversionfactors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factorsknown to those of skill in the art. In general, a dimension, size,formulation, parameter, shape or other quantity or characteristic is“about” or “approximate” whether or not expressly stated to be such. Itis noted that embodiments of very different sizes, shapes and dimensionsmay employ the described arrangements.

Although terms such as “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “up,” “down,”“front,” “rear,” “side,” “end,” “top,” “bottom,” “forward,” “backward,”“under” and/or “over,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and the like may beused herein as a convenience in describing one or more embodimentsand/or uses of the present arrangement, the articles described may bepositioned in any desired orientation and/or may be utilized in anydesired position and/or orientation. Such terms of position and/ororientation should be understood as being for convenience only, and notas limiting of the invention as claimed.

As used herein, the term “and/or” encompasses both the conjunctive andthe disjunctive cases, so that a phrase in the form “A and/or B”encompasses “A” or “B” or “A and B.” In addition, the term “at least oneof” one or more elements is intended to include one of any one of theelements, more than one of any of the elements, and two or more of theelements up to and including all of the elements, and so, e.g., thephrase in the form “at least one of A, B and C” includes “A,” “B,” “C,”“A and B,” “A and C,” “B and C,” and “A and B and C.”

As used herein, the terms “connected” and “coupled” as well asvariations thereof are not intended to be exact synonyms, but toencompass some similar things and some different things. The term“connected” may be used generally to refer to elements that have adirect electrical and/or physical contact to each other, whereas theterm “coupled” may be used generally to refer to elements that have anindirect electrical and/or physical contact with each other, e.g., viaone or more intermediate elements, so as to cooperate and/or interactwith each other, and may include elements in direct contact as well.

A fastener as used herein may include any fastener or other fasteningdevice that may be suitable for the described use, including threadedfasteners, e.g., bolts, screws and driven fasteners, as well as pins,rivets, nails, spikes, barbed fasteners, clips, clamps, nuts, speednuts, cap nuts, acorn nuts, and the like. Where it is apparent that afastener would be removable in the usual use of the example embodimentdescribed herein, then removable fasteners would be preferred in suchinstances. A fastener may also include, where appropriate, other formsof fastening such as a formed head, e.g., a peened or heat formed head,a weld, e.g., a heat weld or ultrasonic weld, a braze, and adhesive, andthe like.

The term battery is used herein to refer to an electro-chemical devicecomprising one or more electro-chemical cells and/or fuel cells, and soa battery may include a single cell or plural cells, whether asindividual units or as a packaged unit. A battery is one example of atype of an electrical power source suitable for a portable or otherdevice. Such devices could include power sources including, but notlimited to, fuel cells, super capacitors, solar cells, and the like. Anyof the foregoing may be intended for a single use or for beingrechargeable or for both.

Various embodiments of a battery may have one or more battery cells,e.g., one, two, three, four, or five or more battery cells, as may bedeemed suitable for any particular device. A battery may employ varioustypes and kinds of battery chemistry types, e.g., a carbon-zinc,alkaline, lead acid, nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd), nickel-metal-hydride (NIMH)or lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery type, of a suitable number of cells andcell capacity for providing a desired operating time and/or lifetime fora particular device, and may be intended for a single use or for beingrechargeable or for both.

The term DC converter is used herein to refer to any electronic circuitthat receives at an input electrical power at one voltage and currentlevel and provides at an output DC electrical power at a differentvoltage and/or current level. Examples may include a DC-DC converter, anAC-DC converter, a boost converter, a buck converter, a buck-boostconverter, a single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC), a seriesregulating element, a current level regulator, and the like. The inputand output thereof may be DC coupled and/or AC coupled, e.g., as by atransformer and/or capacitor. A DC converter may or may not includecircuitry for regulating a voltage and/or a current level, e.g., at anoutput thereof, and may have one or more outputs providing electricalpower at different voltage and/or current levels and/or in differentforms, e.g., AC or DC.

The term “utility” is used herein in several ways to include all of therecognized used and definitions of the term. It may be used in relationto a company, corporation, government agency or other entity thatsupplies and/or controls the supply of a utility, e.g., electricalpower, as well as what is supplied, e.g., electricity. The term may alsobe used in relation to the system, transmission lines, distributionlines, wires, meters, equipment, transformers and the like employed inconnection with transmitting and/or delivering the utility to a customeror other user.

While the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoingexample embodiments, variations within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention as defined by the claims following will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. For example, the output from detector 100, 120may be coupled to an LED, or to a utilization device 130, or to both anLED and a utilization device 130. The coupling may be direct, e.g., toan LED D1 that serves as a visual indicator, or indirectly, e.g., via anLED D1 that is part of an opto-electronic coupler that itself isdirectly coupled to a disconnect device or that is coupled thereto via amicro-controller or microprocessor of an electric meter 20, e.g., of ametering device 30 thereof.

Detector 120 may be implemented by discrete electronic components asillustrated, or may alternatively employ a comparator or high-gainamplifier, e.g., in integrated circuit form, or may be implementeddigitally in a micro-controller or microprocessor that is part of ametering device 30 of an electric meter 20.

While certain features may be described as a raised or male feature,e.g., a stab, ridge, boss, flange, projection or other raised or malefeature, such feature may be positively formed or may be what remainsafter a recessed or female feature, e.g., a jaw, groove, slot, hole,indentation, recess or other recessed feature, is made. Similarly, whilecertain features may be described as a recessed or female feature, e.g.,a jaw, groove, slot, hole, indentation, recess or other recessedfeature, such feature may be positively formed as a female feature ormay be what remains after a raised feature, e.g., a stab, ridge, boss,flange, projection or other raised feature, is made. For example, twoclosely spaced male features, e.g., stabs similar to stab 22, coulddefine a female feature, e.g., a jaw 12, configured to receive a stab 22there between.

Preferably the LC tank circuit 110 of detector 100 is located within thehousing 24, 28 of electric meter 20, which would typically put thedetector tank circuit 110 within about 4 inches (about 10 cm), or less,of all the stabs 22 of the electric meter 20, as illustrated.Alternately, plural detector tank circuits 110 may be employed, so thata separate dedicated detector LC tank circuit 110 could be located moreclosely to each stab 22, e.g., to each potential arcing location,typically within about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm), or less, of each stab 22.Such plural detector LC tank circuits 110 may be connected in series andcoupled to a common detector circuit 120, or may be coupled to separatedetector circuits 120.

While the typical electric meters described herein usually have pluralstab contacts and the meter sockets described herein usually have pluraljaw contacts, the present arrangement is equally suitable for use withelectric meters and sockets that have different contact configurations,e.g., an electric meter having plural jaw contacts, a meter sockethaving plural stab contacts, or an electric meter and meter socket eachhaving various combinations of stabs and jaws, and the terms stabcontact and jaw contact in the claims, whether singular or plural, areexpressly intended to be so construed.

Each of the U.S. Provisional Applications, U.S. Patent Applications,and/or U.S. Patents, identified herein is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, for any purpose and for all purposesirrespective of how it may be referred to or described herein.

Finally, numerical values stated are typical or example values, are notlimiting values, and do not preclude substantially larger and/orsubstantially smaller values. Values in any given embodiment may besubstantially larger and/or may be substantially smaller than theexample or typical values stated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric meter and contact arc detector comprising: an electric meter base formed of an electrically insulating material and having a plurality of stab contacts configured for making electrical connection to plural contacts of an electric meter socket; a metering device supported by said electric meter base; and a contact arc detector supported by said electric meter base, said contact arc detector comprising: a de-tuned resonant tank circuit configured to receive a magnetic field and/or an electric field generated by an electrical arc at a series connection including one or more of the plurality of stab contacts when the magnetic field and/or the electric field impinges upon said resonant tank circuit; an electrical detector to which said de-tuned resonant tank circuit is coupled for detecting signals generated in said de-tuned resonant tank circuit responsive to the magnetic field and/or an electric field generated by an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stab contacts; and a disconnect device responsive directly or indirectly to said electrical detector and configured to interrupt an electrical connection to one or more of the plurality of stab contacts, whereby an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stab contacts is detected and causes the interruption of an electrical connection to one or more of the plurality of stab contacts.
 2. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 1 wherein said de-tuned resonant tank circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor in parallel connection.
 3. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 1 wherein said de-tuned resonant tank circuit is coupled to a resistance for de-tuning the resonant tank circuit to broaden the bandwidth thereof.
 4. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 1 wherein said electrical detector has two inputs, a first of the two inputs thereof being coupled to said de-tuned resonant tank circuit and a second of the two inputs thereof being connected to a reference source configured to provide an offset to a detection threshold of said electrical detector.
 5. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 1 wherein said electrical detector includes: a timing network for determining a duration of an output signal therefrom.
 6. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 5 wherein said timing network includes a resistor and a capacitor connected for determining a time constant.
 7. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 1 wherein said electrical detector includes first and second transistors, an output electrode of each of the first and second transistors being coupled to an input electrode of the other of the first and second transistors, wherein turning the first transistor on causes the second transistor to turn on causing positive feedback to the input electrode of the first transistor, whereby the first and second transistors latch into an on condition.
 8. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 7 wherein the output electrode of the second transistor is coupled to the input electrode of the first transistor by a resistor and a capacitor connected for determining a time constant, whereby the first and second transistors latch into the on condition for a predetermined time.
 9. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 1 further comprising: an optical coupler or a transistor coupling said electrical detector to said disconnect device.
 10. The electric meter and contact arc detector of claim 1 further comprising: a metering device including a micro-controller or a microprocessor, wherein said micro-controller or microprocessor is responsive to said electrical detector: to cause said disconnect device to interrupt an electrical connection to one or more of the plurality of stab contacts; or to cause said disconnect device to interrupt an electrical connection to one or more of the plurality of stab contacts after the output of said electrical detector persists for a predetermined time.
 11. An electric meter contact arc detector mountable to an electric meter base formed of an electrically insulating material and having a plurality of stab contacts configured for making electrical connection to plural contacts of an electric meter socket, said contact arc detector comprising: a de-tuned resonant tank circuit configured to receive a magnetic field and/or an electric field generated by an electrical arc at a series connection including one or more of the plurality of stab contacts when the magnetic field and/or the electric field impinges upon said resonant tank circuit; an electrical detector to which said de-tuned resonant tank circuit is coupled for detecting signals generated in said de-tuned resonant tank circuit responsive to the magnetic field and/or an electric field generated by an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stab contacts; and an output device responsive to said electrical detector and configured to respond to detection of an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stab contacts, whereby an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stab contacts is detected and causes the output device to respond to detection of an electrical arc at one or more of the plurality of stab contacts.
 12. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 11 wherein said de-tuned resonant tank circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor in parallel connection.
 13. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 11 wherein said de-tuned resonant tank circuit is coupled to a resistance for de-tuning the resonant tank circuit to broaden the bandwidth thereof.
 14. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 11 wherein said electrical detector has two inputs, a first of the two inputs thereof being coupled to said de-tuned resonant tank circuit and a second of the two inputs thereof being connected to a reference source configured to provide an offset to a detection threshold of said electrical detector.
 15. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 11 wherein said electrical detector includes: a timing network for determining a duration of an output signal therefrom.
 16. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 15 wherein said timing network includes a resistor and a capacitor connected for determining a time constant.
 17. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 11 wherein said electrical detector includes first and second transistors, an output electrode of each of the first and second transistors being coupled to an input electrode of the other of the first and second transistors, wherein turning the first transistor on causes the second transistor to turn on causing positive feedback to the input electrode of the first transistor, whereby the first and second transistors latch into an on condition.
 18. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 17 wherein the output electrode of the second transistor is coupled to the input electrode of the first transistor by a resistor and a capacitor connected for determining a time constant, whereby the first and second transistors latch into the on condition for a predetermined time.
 19. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 11 wherein said output device includes: an audio or visual indicator, or a light emitting diode configured to provide an indication that said electrical detector has detected electrical arcing; or an optical coupler or a transistor or a metering device directly or indirectly coupling said electrical detector to a disconnect device configured to interrupt electrical power to one of more of the plurality of stab contacts.
 20. The electric meter contact arc detector of claim 11 further comprising: a metering device including a micro-controller or a microprocessor supported by the electric meter base, wherein said metering device responds to the output of said electrical detector: for activating said output device; or for determining a duration of the output of said electrical detector; or for activating said output device after the output of said electrical detector persists for a predetermined time. 